A Refreshing Look at Water

When paired with slices of fruit and vegetables and presented in a pretty pitcher, water becomes an easy, elegant beverage option for special dinners, parties, or under-the-stars soirees. And best of all, it costs just pennies a serving. At less than $20, Libbey's Impression pitcher is stylish — and a great value. An extra-sturdy handle distinguishes Crate & Barrel's All Purpose Pitcher. Baccarat's crystal Capri pitcher boasts a classic silhouette. Vintage Weave's ribbed pitcher has retro appeal. The Diamond Sunburst and Flute and Pine pitchers are modeled on examples from the Sandwich Glass Museum.

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Water 101

Nearly 3,000 brands of bottled water are available on the market — enough to confuse even the savviest shoppers. Here, we make sense of the bottles on your grocery store's shelves.

ARTESIAN: Water, such as Fiji (below), that filters through an aquifer — a layer of porous rock, sand, or gravel — and is bottled directly from an underground well, without coming in contact with surface impurities.

MINERAL: Bottled water containing at least 250 mg/liter of dissolved calcium, magnesium, salts, and other substances; can be sparkling or still.

SPARKLING: Effervescent water, such as Sanfaustino, that has been carbonated by minerals or volcanic gases. Other fizzy waters, such as seltzer, owe their bubbles to the addition of carbon dioxide during bottling.

SPRING: Any water that flows to the earth's surface naturally from an underground source; can be carbonated or still, with varying mineral content.

ENHANCED: Waters, including Glaceau's Smartwater, enriched with electrolytes and vitamins.

Beyond the Bottle

Add special effects to your beverages with homemade ice cubes in flavors such as lime and grenadine, ginger and elderflower. Give sweetness and a hint of color to club soda, ginger ale, or tap water with homemade ice cubes flavored with simple syrups. We used Tovolo's Perfect Cube trays.

Do-It-Yourself

Fresh fruits and vegetables are all you need to transform tap water into something special. Add a quarter of a cucumber cut into spears, half a sliced apple, or half an orange divided into wedges to one quart of water. Chill for at least an hour and drink within the day. Use spring water low in minerals for the purest flavor.